New Home Adventures

About six months ago, my family moved into a new, custom-built home. Designing and building a brand new home for our family was one of the biggest adventures of our lives. And I have to say that it’s been totally worth it! I’m so glad that we decided to go this route.
I started this blog for other people who are considering a custom-built home. I want to share what I learned about how to save money, get financing, and make plans to build a dream home of your very own. With the right information, you too can have the custom built home of your dreams.

Topics to Discuss with Your Spouse When Having a New Home Built

Posted on:
16 September 2016

Having a new home built instead of simply moving into an existing home is an exciting thing for any couple. The ability to completely customize the look of your new home means that you won't have to worry about renovations upon moving in; instead, you'll simply get to enjoy the space. Before you begin the process of hiring a new home builder and talking about the available options, it's important to have a serious conversation with your spouse. While it's important to talk about things such as the home's features, you should first use this conversation to make sure that you're on the same page about everything. Here are some topics to discuss.

Liaising with the Builder

It can be ideal to decide who will be the point person for liaising with the builder; the last thing you want to do is each think that the other person returned the builder's phone call when the reality is that no one did. Neither of you should try to bite off more than you can chew. If one person is busier with work, it makes sense for the other person to be the one to field calls from the builder and keep the other spouse updated.

Considering Financial Issues

You'll be able to get a realistic idea of what the new home will cost you when you talk to the builder, but you should also have a plan for dealing with any financial issues that arise. For example, if one element of the build ends up being a little pricier than you had expected, such as an excavation being difficult because of the amount of rock in the soil, you want to be sure that you have enough money. For this reason, when you're budgeting for the build, it's advisable to have some money set aside in a bank account for unexpected expenses.

Considering Who Will Do What

Sometimes, people do some work on their own to lower the price of the build. For example, you might choose to contract out a service to clear the lot, or you might hire a friend who can pave the driveway for you. Make sure that you and your spouse each know this breakdown of duties. You don't want to reach a point at which one job is left unclear but each of you expects the other person to have a plan for handling it. It can be helpful to make a thorough list of who will do what.